Heavy Bags
Q. I want a heavy bag. What weight and covering should I get?
A. You want to have a bag that is sufficiently heavy to not move around too much while you are pummeling it. For the average person, a bag in the range of 70-100 pounds should be heavy enough. The covering really depends on your budget and expected use. A leather bag will last longer than either a synthetic or canvas bag, but is more than twice the price. For the home user or commercial club that is unsure how much use the bag will get, we suggest a synthetic bag. We recommend a synthetic covering over a canvas one because the synthetic bag is much easier to keep clean. For professional, military or heavy commercial use we suggest a leather bag. If your budget can afford it, you may want to opt for the professional bags.
Q. What's the difference between the professional and general fitness bags?
A. All of the heavy bags we sell are stuffed with bits of rag with small bags of sand weight. The professional bag is composed of a general fitness bag that is surrounded with layer of foam which is then inserted into the outer cover. This gives the professional bags a softer feel than the general fitness bags. The outer covering of the professional bag is also of a higher quality than its general fitness counterpart, so the bag can handle more abuse and last longer.
Q. What's a double-end heavy bag for?
A. A double-end bag does not swing as much. Many people prefer a double-end bag for kicking. Some also prefer one for punching — especially if they don't have a partner to hold the bag. The shock-cord that attaches the bottom of the bag to the floor can always be removed to allow the bag to swing freely.
Q. How high should I hang my heavy bag?
A. Consider your heavy bag as your opponent. With that in mind, the bag should be high enough to deliver a blow to the "head", so the top of the bag should be about level with the of your head. If you have a very short bag, you may need to adjust this height somewhat.
Q. My heavy bag is starting to get soft near the top and hard near the bottom. Is this normal and is there anything I can do about it?
A. Unfortunately, this is normal. The combination of your punches and gravity are causing the contents of the bag to settle to the bottom. The best and maybe only option you have, is to purchase an outer cover for your bag. Placing your existing bag upside-down in the outer cover should reverse the settling affect. Periodically you will need to flip the bag when the bottom starts to get too hard.
Q. Should I get an unfilled bag and if I do, what do I fill it with?
A. An unfilled bag is a good alternative, especially for international customers, who do not want to pay the high cost of shipping a prefilled bag. The bag is filled with bits of rag or other soft material and small bags of sand for added weight. Prefilled bags are hydraulically stuffed, so you will not be able to achieve this if you fill the bag by hand. However, we have not had an unfilled bag returned. We recommend talking to your local fabric shop to see if they have anything you can use for filler.
Speed Bags
Q. What size speed bag should I get?
A. The size of the bag determines how fast it will be. Smaller speed bags require more coordination and skill. Beginners will want to start with a larger bag until they learn the rhythm. Intermediates and expert will probably want a smaller bag. We recommend a middle-sized bag for beginners. When starting out, don't fill the bag all the way (the bag is slower with less air). As your skill increases add more air to the bag. By doing this you don't have to purchase a bag to learn on and then a few weeks or months later have to buy a smaller bag when you get bored with the first one. All you have to do is pump it up some more.
Q. At what height should the speed bag be hung?
A. The bottom of the bag should be roughly level with your chin. However, a little variation should not affect your ability to use the bag.
Q. The bladder in my speed bag broke. Do you have replacement bladders and what's the warranty?
A. Speed bag bladders, like almost all of Everlast's products, are guaranteed for one year. If your bladder broke within the warranty period, contact the store from which you purchased the bag and they should be able to give you a new bladder. If your warranty has expired, we sell bladders to fit all the Everlast speed bags.
Gloves
Q. I want to hit the heavy bag and the speed bag. Is there one glove I can use for both?
A. To hit the speed bag, all you really need is to wrap your hands well with a pair of hand wraps. This should provide sufficient protection for using the speed bag. To add more of a workout to your speed bag routine, you can use a pair of speed bag gloves that have weighted palms, but they are not necessary to protect your hands. So to hit the heavy bag, now all you need is a pair of heavy bag gloves. Be sure to wear your hand wraps when hitting either bag.
Q. Are there any gloves I can use for hitting the heavy bag and sparring?
A. Any glove that you can use in the ring can also be used for hitting the bag, however if you plan to mostly hit the heavy bag and only occasionally step into the ring, a glove like the Universal Boxing Glove with its Velcro wrist is a good choice.
Q. What size glove should I get?
A. You only have a choice of hand size if you are looking at the bag gloves and unless your paws are really large, a regular size should fit just fine. For a boxing glove, the normal weight used during a bout is either 10 or 12 ounces. Check with the sanctioning body for your fight to make sure. A sparring glove is usually heavier to provide you with more of a workout and since they are more padded, it provides your sparring partner with more protection.
Hand Wraps
Q. What is the correct way to use hand wraps?
A. For detailed instructions on how to wrap your hands, please see our how to section, Boxing 101.
Q. What is the difference between Regular and Mexican Hand Wraps?
A. Regular hand wraps are made of 100% cotton and therefore do not stretch much at all. Mexican wraps have some elasticity woven into them which allows them to conform to your hands and wrists better.
Bag Mounts
Q. How heavy of a bag can I hang from the UBS Heavy Bag station?
A. The Heavy Bag station can support up to at least a 300 pound bag. Depending on how well they are secured, our heavy bag wall and ceiling mounts can support the same.
Q. What is the recommended space requirement for the UBS?
A. For the Double Base, we suggest at least a 13 ft. x 13 ft. space. For the Single Base that will have a station on either side, we suggest a 12 ft. x 6 ft. space.
Q. My ceiling is less than 8 ft. Is there a charge to get a shorter UBS?
A. Yes, there is a $179 charge for a custom height UBS and it will take an additional 2-4 weeks for delivery.
Q. You offer a 24 inch and a 30 inch speed bag drum. Which should I choose?
A. Speed bag platforms are all about providing an excellent rebounding surface. This is accomplished with a solid, vibration-resistant and heavy platform. Having said this, both drum sizes provide an outstanding rebounding surface, however the extra 10 pounds of the 30 inch drum makes for a more vibration resistant platform. Both drums are large enough to accommodate any size speed bag.
Beginners
Q. What gear do you recommend for a beginner?
A. Please see our beginners page in our how to section, Boxing 101.
Q. Do you have a list of gyms that offer boxing in my area?
A. Currently we do not, but you will find a gym directory at www.boxinghelp.com.
Discounts
Q. Do you offer any discounts to clubs, schools, the military, etc.?
A. No, we do not give discounts based on the organization. We do have a bargains page where you can find deals on items that have been discontinued or we no longer stock. We also usually run a store-wide sale once a year, often during the summer months. If you would like to be notified when we have a sale, please email us at mailing@balazsboxing.com.
Still have a question? Email us at FAQ@BalazsBoxing.com